RoadVitals

2016 GMC Sierra

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
6
Latest Oct 25, 2024
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Feb 11, 2016
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2016 GMC Sierra, most frequently naming the airbags, electrical and steering categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 61 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Airbags228.6%
  • Electrical228.6%
  • Steering114.3%
  • Suspension114.3%
  • Visibility114.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
16V084000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

Feb 11, 2016
139 units potentially affected
The defect: Genera Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Camaro, Malibu, Silverado and GMC Sierra vehicles. The radio may intermittently fail to provide an audio warning when the key has been left in the ignition and the door is opened or when the driver does not fasten their seat belt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection", and/or 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
The risk: An unbelted driver is at a greater risk of injury in a crash.
The remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began on March 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 15808.
General Motors LLCManufacturer number 15808View on NHTSA.gov
15V830000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

Dec 10, 2015
90 units potentially affected
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pick up trucks manufactured October 13, 2015, to October 14, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the mounting stud used to secure the air bag sensing and diagnostic Module (SDM) may be incorrectly positioned, and as a result, the SDM housing could fracture.
The risk: If the SDM housing fractures, water may get into SDM causing it to malfunction and hinder the proper deployment of the air bags in the event of a crash, thereby increasing the risk of occupant injury.
The remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will have the mounting stud repositioned and the SDM replaced, free of charge. The recall began December 2, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 15794.
General Motors LLCManufacturer number 15794View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

AirbagsElectrical
Filed Oct 25, 2024
Crash reported

The contact owned a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would lose automotive power. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the negative battery was replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at approximately 45 MPH, a deer ran into the middle of the roadway and impacted the front grill and bumper. The Service Air Bag warning light was illuminated. After the impact, the contact noticed smoke was leaking into the interior of the vehicle from the front driver-side and passenger-side air bags. The contact stated that the vehicle would not move forward or reverse after the impact. The contact stated that the front driver-side and passenger-side seat belts failed to retract or extend. The contact and her husband were able to unbuckle the seat belts and safely exit the vehicle in time. No injuries were sustained. No police reports or fire reports were filed. The vehicle was deemed a total loss and was towed to the contact's home where it remained for further investigation. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made not aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

NHTSA ID
11621956
Incident
Oct 25, 2024
Mileage
75,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 15, 2024
Crash reported

The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 2500 HD. The contact stated that while driving at 64 MPH, he crashed head-on with a 350-pound deer. The deer went underneath the vehicle, and the driver ran over it with the passenger front tire. The driver's side air bag did not deploy. The air bag warning light was illuminated. There were no reported injuries or fire. A police report was filed. The contact was able to drive away from the crash. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 85,379. Additionally, while driving in the snow, a motorcycle crashed into the rear of his vehicle. The driver-side front air bag did not deploy. There was an abnormal sizzling sound, and smoke was detected. There were no warning lights illuminated, There were no reported injuries, fore or police report. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID
11588953
Incident
May 2, 2024
Mileage
85,379 mi
Suspension
Filed Aug 11, 2022

The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70- 85 mph, the vehicle was shaking. The stability track warning indicator light was illuminated and flashing on and off. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but they were unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to several independent mechanics but they were unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was contacted but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.

NHTSA ID
11478795
Incident
Aug 11, 2017
Mileage
15,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jan 25, 2022
Fire reported

The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH with the defroster engaged, she noticed smoke on the rear electric sliding glass window and smelled a burning odor. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road, disengaged the defroster and the smoke gradually faded away. The contact continued to drive the vehicle. The contact notified the dealer of the failure and scheduled an appointment for diagnosis. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.

NHTSA ID
11448788
Incident
Jan 24, 2022
Mileage
64,000 mi
Filed Mar 30, 2016

VEHICLE SHAKES AND VIBRATES AT ANY SPEEDS ABOVE 75 MPH.

NHTSA ID
10852516
Incident
Jan 1, 2016
Mileage
500 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Mar 21, 2016

WHILE DRIVING MY TRUCK, IT HAS HAD 3 ALERTS ON DASH FOR "SERVICE STABILITRAK, POWER STEERING USE CAUTION AND TRAILER BRAKE." VEHICLE GAUGES ALL DROP TO ZERO WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE AND GO ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS OCCURS ALSO DISENGAGES FROM GEAR, VEHICLE IS AN AUTOMATIC. THEN ENGINE REVS UP WHEN IT SLIPS OUT OF GEAR AND GENERALLY GOES BACK IN GEAR AS GAUGES COME BACK ON. THE POWER STEERING SEEMS TO ALSO LOSE SOME POWER. WHEN THIS OCCURS, IF YOU DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL, YOU DO NOT GET ANY MORE POWER. THIS IS TECHNICALLY THE 6TH OCCURRENCE. IT HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALER (GRIFFIN GMC OF MONROE, NC) AND COMPUTER CODES WERE CLEARED AND NOTHING REPORTED IE...TECHNICALLY FOUND THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS ISSUE PER THE DEALERSHIP AS UNABLE TO RE-PRODUCE THE CAUSE. I RETURNED THE TRUCK TODAY AFTER THIS 6TH OCCURRENCE DUE TO MY FEAR OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH MY CHILDREN AND GETTING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE VIDEO OF THIS LAST OCCURRENCE OF DASHBOARD GAUGES AND SHARED THEM WITH THE DEALERSHIP. FIRST OCCURRENCE PICTURES ARE FEB 29, 2016 AND SUNDAY, MARCH 20, 2016. VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 2000 MILES ON ODOMETER. ENTIRE TIME, VEHICLE HAS BEEN RUNNING ON LOCAL ROAD, EITHER AT STOP OR DRIVING BELOW 45MPH MOVING STRAIGHT AHEAD. I COULD NOT REPLICATE OR CAUSE THE ISSUE TO HAPPEN AGAIN ON PURPOSE, VERY RANDOM.

NHTSA ID
10850797
Incident
Mar 20, 2016
Mileage
2,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

PI1255E

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

This preliminary informational bulletin contains recommendations of what needs to be done to swap/install camper outside rearview mirrors on a vehicle not originally equipped with them.

03-03-10-007J

TIRES

This informational bulletin provides information on the temporary tire flat spotting condition.

PI1385A

TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS

This informational bulletin provides information that the TPM sensors must always be relearned when accessory wheels are installed on the vehicle.

06-03-09-004H

SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY

This technical bulletin provides a procedure to lube the rear leaf springs on vehicles with the condition of a squeak noise originating from the rear of the vehicle.

16-NA-042

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

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PIT5287C

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician with the correct way to remove the front shock electrical connector terminals. Technician will need to slightly bend the end of the J-38125-12A release tool. There is a purple Terminal Position Assurance that will align itself in the release position when the release tool is inserted into the release hole. There is a metal locking tab on the terminal that will need to be pushed in before the terminal will pull out of the connector.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

GMC Sierra by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2017610037.8
2016Viewing620—
2015536050.3
201410112053.9
2013393051.4
2012292051.1
2011432042.2
2010341045.6
2009371041.7
2008682250.8
2007592050.2
2006536052.7
200511711048.1
200418810051.8
20032069558.4
20022497865.4
20012647966.2
200044312965.4
199960091065.3
19981900246.8
19972380034.6
19962462358.9
19952616360.6
19941903048.9
1993723051.6
1992304052.6
1991122039.9
1990182051.4
1989162154.7
1988621—
1987100—
1983200—
1982100—
1979001—
1977200—
1976200—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.